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Robots

A blockbuster exhibition that explored the 500-year story of humanoid robots and the artistic and scientific quest to understand what it means to be human.

Robots took visitors on an incredible journey spanning five centuries, illustrated with robotic artefacts from around the globe. Visitors could watch as 16 mechanical forms sprung to life and even interact with some of the robots on display.

Set in five different periods and places, the exhibition uncovered how robots and society have been shaped by religious belief, the Industrial Revolution, 20th century popular culture and our dreams of the future. The gallery featured a unique collection of over 100 robots, from a 16th-century mechanical monk to robots from science fiction and modern-day research labs.

Recent developments from robotics research were also on show, encouraging visitors to explore how and, more importantly, why roboticists are building robots that resemble us and interact in human-like ways.

Robots opened 8 February 2017 and closed 3 September 2017.

Highlights

Curator Ben Russell shares seven must-see robots from the exhibition.

Gallery

Supported by

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Media partner

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